Alexandria Area -- About Alexandria is a city to explore at random. It's as important to enjoy the atmosphere as it is to see the sights. The city center now stretches back from Midan Saad Zaghloul, on the seafront, where there is a statue of the nationalist leader. This was formerly the site of the Caesareum, a magnificient temple begun by Cleopatra for her lover Antony and subsequently completed by their enemy Octavian. The Corniche is lined with beaches, with full tourist facilities, from the city center outwards. In town try the Stanley beach. Further east Montazah Beach and Ma'amoura are two of the best. In spite of miles of white sand beaches and azure sea, Egypt's Med is still undeveloped and relatively unpopulated. There are fine beaches all along the coast from Alexandria to Mersa Matrouth, including the resort of Sidi Abd al Rahman, a secluded bay with clear waters and a selection of villas and hotels. At Mersa Matrouh itself, the natural bay and long white beach make for good sunbathing and swimming in calm transparent waters. Hired bicycles will take you to other good spots, including the outstanding beach at Al-Abyad and Ageebah cove. At Abu Qir, a small fishing town, you can sunbath, fish, swim and eat fresh seafood. To the west of the city try the resorts of Agami or Hannoville. Return to Destinations Page | Egypt Home Page

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About the Area

"The Northern Coast" is the Egyptian North Western gate stretching 525 Km on the Mediterranean east to Sallum on the Libyan boarder.

This was a rain-dependent agricultural land in the Roman era. Having good faith in the prosperous future of this region, the government spares no effort to develop it. Many comprehensive planning studies have been conducted. Many luxurious tourist spots have been built. In 1978, the process was unleashed. 

In spite of miles of white sand beaches and azure sea, Egypt's Med is still undeveloped and relatively unpopulated. There are fine beaches all along the coast from Alexandria to Mersa Matrouh, including the resort of Sidi Abdel Rahman, a secluded bay with clear waters and a selection of villas and hotels. At Mersa Matrouh itself, the natural bay and long white beach make for good sunbathing and swimming in calm transparent waters. Hired bicycles, carettas or open- sided tuf-tuf buses will take you to other good bathing spots nearby including the outstar beach at Al-Abyad and Ageebah cove, surrounded by beautiful scenery. As well as beaches there are other attractions in the Mersa Matrouh area: Cleopatra's Bath, a rock-hewn whirlpool bath off- shore which was supposedly used by Antony and Cleopatra, a ruined temple fort built by Ramses II, an early Coptic chapel and "Rommel's Hideout", a cave where the general planned his military campaigns and which has now been tumed into a military museum.

At Abu Qir, a small fishing town, you can sunbath, fish, swim and eat fresh seafood. To the west of the city try the resorts of Agami or Hannoville.

Attractive integrated tourist villages are there, including beaches, houses, public service units. Moreover, 121 private locations are under study, besides the three models executed by the Ministry of construction, i.e. "Marakia", "Marabella" and "Marina" resorts. 

Due to its marble-like nature, "Marakia" was originally known as "Marmarina" in the old times. The name is extracted from the Arabic word "marmar" which means marble. Clear sea and pure sand are its two main characteristics. It is 240 feddans & consists of three main parts; namely, beach, housing units and public service units. The beach is 1500 meters long; its downstream surface is 100 meters. 

A pedestrain road separates it from the housing units. This stretches 400 meters, and consists of five-region on -shore 1945 units; 1267 cabins, 72 villas and 31 houses. The public service units are in both the middle of the village and at its main entrance, including administrative, emergency, communication, commercial, and entertainment services. Restaurants, cinema and an open theater. At the village entrance, a 800-person capacity mosque has been built. Large surfaces were devoted for sportive courtyards and public gardens. That is not all, there are further expansions. 

One may imagine "Marina" by the meaning of its name: the beautiful sea. It is 15 Km from "Marakia", 750 meters long on the beach and its downstream surface is 800 meters. Its total surface is about 143 feddans. Many service units are constructed on the beach. The housing unit consists of 34 villas, 264 flats and 672 cabins. A center for administrative, commercial, medical, religious and entertainment services is found in the middle of the village. 

Nearby, "Marina- Alameen" lies on the beach, about 100 Km  from Alexandria. Its
surface is nearly 5000 feddans. Apart from the beach, it consists of housing and public service
units. Golf, horseriding and other sport facilities and courtyards are also there. In fact, "Marina-Alameen" is exceptional in both natural and historical respects. It is endowed
with natural deep lakes, as well as large forests. Moreover, it is rich in both Greek and
Roman monuments. Being the World War II stage, an allied soldiers cemetery is found
there. On the other hand, sea-linked lakes are designed for water renewal, shipping and
fishery purposes. 

And then there is Alexandria (Alex) itself.  Pick any given holiday and try to find someone you need to see in Cairo.  They will be in Alex, which is not only a playground for people around the world, but of the Egyptians themselves.

Population 

Total population 3,341,000
male 51.15 %
female 48.85 %

Tourism 

54 hotels
4,041 rooms

Worship places 

1,819 mosques
36 churches

How to get to Alexandria

From outside Egypt
International flights to Cairo, then an internal flight or travel by rail, bus or private transport (see below). 
Contact your travel agent for details. 

From Cairo
Overland and rail
Alexandria
Trains (including the express "Turbini" service) from Ramses Station. Buses (Superjet, West Delta Bus Co. or Golden Arrow) from Abdel Mouneem Riyad
terminal near the Ramses Hilton Hotel. Some buses also depart directly from Cairo Airport. Service taxis from in front of the Nile Hilton Hotel, near Ramses
Station or the Ahmed Helmi terminal. There are two good roads direct from Cairo to Alexandria for those with private transport.

Mersa Matrouh
Trains, direct or via Alexandria, from Ramses Station. In the summer there are also wagons-lits direct to Mersa Matrouh. Contact Wagons-lits on
+20-2-3492365.
Buses (Superjet, West Delta Bus Co. or Golden Arrow) from Abdel Mouneem Riyad terminal near the Ramses Hilton Hotel. The West Delta Bus Co. buses
leave Alexandria from Ramleh. Service taxis also run from Alexandria 

Al Alamein
By bus, train or service taxi from Alexandria.

By air
EgyptAir flies daily to Alexandria throughout the year and to Mersa Matrouh in the summer months. Tel: +20-2-5750600 (Cairo).

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